“I’m not saying anything.”
I placed Charlotte in her bassinet and sighed as I fell back onto the couch. “You’re implying something.”
“I’m doing no such thing.”
Peeking over to Grace, I couldn’t help but notice her holding back a smile as she held her son, Trey, in her lap. “What are you smiling about?” I snapped.
“Damn girl, settle your tits. I’m not smiling about anything.”
Turning to look at Meagan, Grace frowned as Meagan said, “Told you.”
Standing, I shook my head. “So, I hardly ever get to come to town and hang out with y’all and this is how it’s going to be?”
“Sorry, Tay, it’s not fair of us. We’ll stop,” Meagan said as Grace laughed.
“The hell we will. I’m guessing by your bitch mood you’re in, the date didn’t go like you planned and you most likely thought about Jase the entire night.”
“I did not.”
Grace lifted her eyes and gave me a really look.
“As much as I love hanging out here, I think I’m going to go visit Lauren. She won’t mention Jase.”
Grace made a huff sound as my sister laughed.
Twenty minutes later I was knocking on my best friend Lauren’s door.
“Oh my glitter! Tay, what are you doing here?”
I couldn’t help but smile as I took in Lauren. Something was different about her. Her face seemed to be glowing.
“Just wanted to come visit everyone. I was missing home.”
Pulling me in, Lauren engulfed me in a hug and started crying.
“It’s . . . so . . . good . . . to . . . see . . . you!”
I patted her back as I replied, “It’s good seeing you too, sweetie.” Pulling back, I looked at her cautiously. “Lauren, is everything okay?”
With a wave of her hand, she nodded. “Yep. I’m just so happy to see you.”
I had known Lauren my whole life and I knew something was not right. She was never this emotional. “Did you and Colt have a fight?”
Her head pulled back in surprise. “What? God no! Everything with Colt is amazing. It’s beyond amazing.”
Breaking down into tears again, I wrapped my arms around her and led her over to the couch. “Please tell me what’s wrong, Lauren.”
She wiped her tears away and smiled. “Oh, Tay, nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect. It’s amazing. It’s beyond amazing.”
Her eyes were a beacon of happiness. “Yes. You’ve already said that. Dang, you must have had some good sex this morning to be in this good of a mood.”
With a slight push, she shook her head. “I’m about to burst!”
“With?”
Placing her hand over her mouth, her eyes teared up again.
“Okay, you’re freaking me out. Are you about to burst because something happy has happened?”
She nodded.
“With you?”
She nodded again.
I laughed and said in a kidding tone, “You’re pregnant.”
Lauren stared at me with the biggest smile on her face I’d ever seen.
“Oh. My. Lauren! You’re pregnant?”
We both jumped up at once and wrapped each other up in a hug while jumping like fools.
“I’m pregnant!”
“You’re pregnant!”
When we finally settled down, I held her out at arm’s length. “No wonder you’re glowing. I noticed it the moment you opened the door. When did you find out?”
“Ten minutes ago!”
“Oh wow . . . wait. What? You just found out?”
She jumped up and down as she screamed out, “Yes!”
“Holy . . .”
“Shit! Holy shit!” Lauren said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the master bathroom. When she picked up the pregnancy test, she squealed and shoved it in my face.
Jumping back, I yelled out, “Gross! You peed on that thing!”
“Look! Look! Look!”
Laughing, I shook my head and said, “I can see it from here. It for sure says you’re pregnant.”
For one brief moment, jealousy raced through my veins before I quickly got it under control. “Does Colt know?”
She wrapped her arms around her body and shook her head. “No. I didn't even tell him I was suspecting it.”
“Have you been trying?”
“No. I started feeling kind of tired lately and when I didn’t get my period, I got curious.”
I took her hand in mine. “I take it this news makes you happy, then?”
Pressing her lips together, she nodded as more tears rolled down her face. “Colt?”
“I . . . I think he’s going to be happy. We hadn’t planned on kids this soon, but I swear to God there is something in the water here!”
Laughing, I pulled my best friend into my arms. “Remind me to drink bottled water.”
Lauren gasped and pulled back. “What? Are you having sex? With who? Why haven’t you told me?”
I held up my hands. “Whoa. Settle down, girl. I’m not having sex.”
Lauren frowned. “Well, that sucks.”